Willet
Here is a Willet (Tringa semipalmata) that I photographed during the Noble Proctor BioBlitz Challenge this past May. Now that we have entered August we are firmly in the time of year for these birds to be found as migrants in many marshes, wetlands, beaches and coastal locations. We can also expect to find one or two Western Willets that have a distinctly different appearance including a softer toned, less-barred gray body, a slightly leaner bill, and a bit of a larger overall size. See if you can spot one soon! That can be a difficult task to begin with as you can see how well their...
Read MoreYellow Warbler on Queen Anne’s Lace
It turns out there are a lot of fans of Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota)! This Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia), photographed yesterday, is among them. The autumn migration continues (what?!) with birds heading south for the winter, and Yellow Warblers enjoy stopping in grasslands and shrublands to feed on the many insects they contain. The faster you can start your journey south the more food you will find along the way all while making a more relaxed trip. Suffice it to say this bird will not be facing the prospect of ice and snow as some warblers still migrating in October...
Read MoreBank Swallow
Speaking of July migrant birds, here we have the Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia), a species you might not find in habitat near you during the nesting season but stand a good chance to spot on a wire or in a field on the way back south right now. They are our smallest swallow species which will help you pick them out from among the Purple Martins, Barns, Trees, Northern-rough Wingeds, or even Cliffs.
Read MoreThe Big Dipper
Can you spot the Big Dipper just above the horizon between the trees? It can be hard to believe in the midsummer heat but birds are already migrating south for the winter both during the day (various swallows to Eastern Kingbirds to Blue-gray Gnatcatchers) and the night (Red-eyed Vireos to Indigo Buntings to Black-billed Cuckoos). Those nocturnal species use various methods to help them move around our planet – some may use a coastline, others the Earth’s magnetic field, and like people, certain birds gaze at the stars. Various species take in the night sky as a map, just as we...
Read MoreTree Swallow
How have your Tree Swallow and Eastern Bluebird nest boxes fared this season? It is getting warm out there, and I hope most of the young have successfully fledged. We are already at the point of the year where barbed wire fences and power lines are being filled with swallows of various types as they fledge, disperse and begin to gather before fall migration. Keep an eye out for more uncommon species such as the Bank Swallow or Cliff Swallow sitting among your Trees or Northern Rough-wingeds. Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
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